Announcing the 2012 AfterElton Hot 100!
Prepare yourselves for the 100 hottest men on Earth!
This year in our sixth annual Hot 100 reader poll, over ninety thousand votes were cast by our readers for over fifteen hundred different men. We tallied the votes and ranked the top 100 vote-getters.
Given our readership of gay men and their friends, it's no surprise that gay or bi guys are well-represented on this year's Hot 100 (roughly 20%). And many of the straight folks who made the cut have either played compelling gay roles before, or have spoken up in support of marriage equality and GLBT rights. Our diverse list includes actors, musicians, politicians, and athletes. And we're thrilled to note that men of color are better represented than they have been in previous years.
Will last year's winner Darren Criss pull off a repeat? What up and coming hot celebrities made the cut for the first time? All will be revealed in the gallery below.
100. Joshua Bowman
Making his first appearance on this list, the 24-year-old British actor currently draws our attention as troubled rich boy Daniel Grayson on ABC's Revenge.
You can find him on Twitter at @OfficialBowman
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
99. Alan Ritchson
He made quite a splash as Smallville's Aquaman, but we didn't find out he had a sense of humor until his sublime turn as Thad Castle in Spike TV's Blue Mountain State.
Follow him on Twitter @alanritchson
Photo: Clinton Gaughran/AfterElton
98. Jon Hamm
Mad Men's Don Draper makes heavy drinking and sixties slim cut suits irresistible. Small wonder the man who plays him is on this list.
Photo: Vera Anderson/WireImage
97. Alex Pettyfer
Shirtless in Beastly, sure to be even more exposed in the upcoming Magic Mike. We're liking this British import.
Photo: CBS Films
96. Dylan O'Brien
As cute sidekick Stiles, he's possibly greatest thing about the impossibly addictive Teen Wolf.
Photo: Leslie Bryce/Troix Magazine
95. Wilson Cruz
He's come a long way from his days as Claire Danes' sidekick in My So Called Life. Just look at those freaking arms!
Follow him on Twitter @wcruz73
Photo: Clinton Gaughran/AfterElton
94. Damon Wayans Jr
New Girl wanted him, but Happy Endings had dibs. Actually, they can both stand in line behind us. Gorgeous and hilarious, a powerful combination.
Photo: Mark Davis/Getty
93. Tom Ford
Now here is a man that never falls out of fashion. The oh so dashing Tom Ford. We bet he smells really good.
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
92. Idris Elba
He killed as a suave yet ruthless gang lord in The Wire. Who knew that Baltimore accent was a total put on? The oh so fine Brit more recently seduced Laura Linney (and us) on The Big C and won a Golden Globe for Luther.
Photo: Stephane Danna/AFP/Getty
91. Joel-McHale
Community needs to find every possible reason to get this man out of his clothes.
Follow him on Twitter @joelmchale
Photo: NBC
90. Max Greenfield
We've loved Greenfield ever since his turn as the adorable Officer Leo on Veronica Mars, but his current gig as Schmidt on New Girl has everyone taking notice.
Follow him on Twitter @iamgreenfield
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
89. President Barack Obama
We really like the man our Commander-in-Chief has evolved into.
Photo: Chris Schneider/Getty
88. James Marsden
His prince charming looks have always masked killer comedic timing. The Oklahoma boy and former Versace model drew raves this past season on 30 Rock as Liz Lemon's sensitive hot dog vendor boyfriend.
For a guy like him we'd risk the nitrites.
Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty
87. Adam Pally
His schlub gay guy routine on Happy Endings tickles our fancy. Sexy without trying at all.
Follow him on Twitter @adampally
Photo: Alexandra Wyman/WireImage
86. James McAvoy
The compact Scotsman was scorching in Atonement, but more recently he blew our minds as a pre-wheelchair Professor X in X-Men: First Class. We can't wait for the sequel.
Photo: Focus Features
85. Paul Wesley
Born Paul Wasilewski, the son of immigrant Polish parents, he currently steams up Thursday nights as The Vampire Diaries' Stefan Salvatore.
Photo: The CW
84. Kit Harington
Game of Thrones' Jon Snow has any number of charms, but a good hunk of them are wasted under his fur parka costume. Please, GoT, get this boy to warmer climes!
Photo: Jake Chessum/Men's Journal
83. Alex O'Loughlin
He's been a vampire, a love interest for Jennifer Lopez and now he's Hawaii Five-0's Steve McGarrett. Book him, Danno!
Photo: CBS Films
82. Kris Allen
We can't begrudge his American Idol season seven win over Adam Lambert. Great musicianship, unassuming attitude, sheepish charm... and that perfect parallelogram mouth. We could watch him sing for hours.
Photo source
He gave up his heart on the now defunct As the World Turns. A raw deal, but he has ours forever apparently.
Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images
80. Justin Bartha
The Hangover hottie is like a more accessible Armie Hammer. We're torqued to watch him on Ryan Murphy's The New Normal.
Photo: Disney/Jerry Bruckheimer
79. Brad Pitt
Some things just get better with age. And loving the glasses, Brad. We respect your authoritaah!
Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/GettyImages
78. Charlie Williams
He's performed in hits like Memphis and How to Succeed in Business, but this smoking hot dancer's "crowning" achievement? Named "Mr. Broadway" at 2010's Broadway Beauty Pageant.
The Broadway community knows how to spot talent!
Photo source
77. Chace Crawford
That face. That fabulous face. The Texan who plays Gossip Girl's Nate Archibald is a paragon of male beauty.
Photo: The CW
76. Ryan Kwanten
True Blood's Jason Stackhouse is sex on a stick thanks to the charming Aussie who plays him. We so understand why the ladies of Bon Temps (and a certain newbie vampire) are smitten with him.
Follow him on Twitter @Ryan_Kwanten
Photo: HBO
75. Matthew Morrison
Sexy and multi-talented, he's the music teacher we wish we could've had.
Follow him on Twitter @Matt_Morrison
Photo: Jo Hale/Getty Images
74. Shemar Moore
He's made us Restless for years, and given us Criminal thoughts.
Photo source
73. Jake Shears
The out Scissor Sisters frontman is a trailblazing force of nature, on stage and off.
Follow him on Twitter @jakeshears
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
72. Van Hansis
He brought us one of soap's most iconic gay characters. Even after two years off the air, he still makes our world turn.
Photo: Seth Fisher
71. Karl Urban
We Judge this New Zealand native gorgeous, and we'd love to jump his ... Bones.
Photo Gregg DeGuire/Getty
70. Bradley Cooper
He's certainly on our A-Team, and definitely gives us a love Hangover too. Just look at those fabulous blue eyes.
Photo: Getty
69. Jared Leto
The actor/musician has carved out his own niche in Hollywood and followed his own rules. And is it just us, or does he never seem to age?
Follow him on Twitter @JaredLeto
Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images
68. James Duke Mason
Belinda Carlisle's out son has become a strong political voice, and we're mad about him.
Follow him on Twitter @JamesDukeMason
Photo: Adam Bouska/NOH8
67. James Franco
The eccentric star lives in a world all his own, and we love spending time there with him.
Follow him on Twitter @JamesFrancoTV
Photo: Franco Origlia/Getty Images
66. Trevor Donovan
He may have left Beverly Hills, but we'd follow him to any zip code.
At the least, you should follow him on Twitter @TrevDon
Photo: Leupold & Gomillion
65. Sean Maher
He found Serenity this year as an out gay man, and we couldn't be happier for him.
Follow him on Twitter @Sean_M_Maher
Photo: Clinton Gaughran/AfterElton
64. Andrew Garfield
He's about to see his star skyrocket, and we are already caught in his web.
Photo: Vera Anderson/WireImage
63. Colton Haynes
He may not be a werehunk on Teen Wolf, but he still makes us howl.
Follow him on Twitter @ColtonLHaynes
62. Tom Hardy
The intense English actor isn't afraid to bare all, and is the Bane of predictability.
Photo: Vera Anderson/WireImage
61. Taylor Lautner
As he moves into the twilight of his teen roles, we can't wait to see his leap to leading man status.
Follow him on Twitter @OfficialTL
Photo: Ian Gavan/Getty Images
60. Eli Lieb
This out musician can take us to his "Place Of Paradise" any time.
Follow him on Twitter @elilieb
Photo source
59. Eddie McClintock
He's that rarest of artifacts: Gorgeous, funny, and with a heart of gold.
Follow him on Twitter @EddieMcClintock
Photo: Clinton Gaughran/AfterElton
58. Gareth Thomas
Oh Alfie! The retired Rugby God is the template for successful out sports stars.
Follow him on Twitter @gareththomas14
Photo source
57. Matt Smith
The current Doctor has the cure for what ails us. He'd have no problem luring us into that phone booth.
Photo: Bobby Bank/WireImage
56. Ewan McGregor
The sexy Scot is still making us swoon, 15 years after he first bared all on screen.
Photo: Vera Anderson/WireImage
55. Dan Feuerriegel
As Agron on Spartacus, this Aussie heartthrob can unsheath with the best of them.
Follow him on Twitter @DgFeuerriegel
Photo source
54. Chris Pine
Those lips, those eyes. His rising star is Unstoppable, and we'll boldly go wherever that next step may be.
Photo: Jordan Strauss/Getty Images
53. Chandler Massey
Playing the soap world's newest gay teen, he's brought a quiet dignity to the histrionics of daytime. And he just won an Emmy for it!
Follow him on Twitter @ChandlerMassey
Photo: Clinton Gaughran/AfterElton
52. Matthew Mitcham
The golden boy of the Olympics, we'll see his ray of sunshine illuminate us once again this summer.
Follow him on Twitter @matthew_mitcham
Photo: Clive Rose/Getty Images
51. Jeremy Renner
The two-time Oscar nominee represents the best of the new leading man.
Follow him on Twitter @_JeremyRenner
Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images
50. Ben Cohen
This rugby star combats bullying with his StandUp Foundation. Plus, that smile (and the rest) makes us melt every time.
Follow him on Twitter @RugbyBenCohen
Photo source
49. Mark Salling
Puck's nefarious stare is a Glee standard, and we'll always support his biting intensity at McKinley High.
Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Salling
Photo: Michael Tran/FilmMagic
48. Joe Manganiello
The True Blood hunk understands the gays. And we understand him! We'll be checking out his naughty firefighter finesse in Magic Mike.
Follow him on Twitter @joemanganiello
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty
47. Daniel Radcliffe
Has there ever been such a righteous LGBT ally in a mainstream blockbuster kids film? DanRad is pricelessly cool and candid.
Photo: Fotonoticias/WireImage
46. Hugh Jackman
Wolverine was one of the most underrated Oscar hosts of recent years. Next up for this song and dance superhero: this year's Les Miserables.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty
45. Johnny Depp
Tim Burton's favorite pirate is still impeccable at age 49. You know he and Helena Bonham Carter sit around dreading the day they'll have to play each other.
Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty
44. Cory Monteith
We love Finn. Cory Monteith is cute, self-effacing, and hilarious in real life.
Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty
43. Ryan Reynolds
The Green Lantern is a chiseled, muscular stud, but perhaps his coolest accomplishment remains dating Alanis Morissette.
Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty
42. Adam Levine
"Moves Like Jagger" was the definitive summer jam of 2011, and Adam's delicate, beautiful features make The Voice worth slogging through.
Follow him on Twitter @adamlevine
Photo: Michael Stewart/Getty
41. Jonathan Groff
Glee's Jesse St. James is an out, lovable hunk who we'll always cherish for originating the role of Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening.
Photo source
40. Nathan Fillion
Castle may be his biggest hit, but we can't shake the fond memory of Mr. Fillion from our beloved Firefly.
Photo: Lloyd Bishop/NBC
39. Russell Tovey
Forget Team Jacob-- when it comes to supporting seductive werewolves, we're Team George all the way and superfans of Being Human.
Follow him on Twitter @russelltovey
Photo: Dave M. Bennett/Getty
38. Alexander Skarsgård
The man who is so happy to get naked playing True Blood's Eric Northman is the bloodiest pile of gorgeousness we know.
Photo: Lloyd Bishop/NBC
37. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Can't wait to see him in The Dark Knight Rises, but we adored his sensitivity in 50/50. And Mysterious Skin remains a dark and disturbing masterpiece.
Follow him on Twitter @hitRECordJoe
Photo: Vera Anderson/WireImage
36. Robert Downey Jr.
The perennial hottie is woozily attractive in Sherlock Holmes, and he proved that Iron Man is forever awesome in The Avengers.
Photo: Vera Anderson/WireImage
35. Max Adler
Dave Karofsky is one of Glee's most human characters, and the down-to-Earth Max Adler perfectly fills his shoes.
Follow him on Twitter @MrMaxAdler
Photo source
Shame's frontal nudity may have been the defining moment of 2011, but don't forget his equally hostile sexuality from A Dangerous Method!
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
33. David Tennant
The supreme Doctor Who? We think so. "Allons-y!"
Photo: Wendy Redfern/Getty
32. Channing Tatum
He's been hot before, but we have a new-found respect for Mr. Tatum's hotness now that he's bearing (most) all of it in Magic Mike.
Follow him on Twitter @channingtatum
Photo: Sony Pictures
31. Henry Cavill
From The Tudors to the Immortals to next year's Superman reboot. We can't wait to see how he fills out those red and blue tights.
Photo: Relativity Media
30. Misha Collins
Supernatural's Castiel is pretty damn angelic, and we'd like to see more of his celestial body.
Follow him on Twitter @mishacollins
Photo source
29. Luke Macfarlane
Here's how we like our gay men: out, gorgeous, and costarring in a family drama with Sally Field. Perfection.
Photo source
28. Cheyenne Jackson
He may be snarky fun on Glee, but we adore Cheyenne's nice guy appearances on 30 Rock even better. More of our gay heroes should bed Liz Lemon.
Follow him on Twitter @cheyennejackson
Photo: Karl Simone/cheyennejackson.com
27. Ian Somerhalder
The lupine star of The Vampire Diaries continues to be our favorite member of the undead.
Follow him on Twitter @iansomerhalder
Photo: The CW
26. Jake Gyllenhaal
We gawped at his beauty in last year's Source Code, but he's forever our Jack Twist.
Photo: John MacDougall/AFP/Getty
25. David Burtka
He's an intrepid E! reporter, but we love him most as one half of the most dapper gay couple in Hollywood. NPH has fine taste.
Follow him on Twitter @Davidburtka
Photo: David Livingston/Getty
24. Josh Hutcherson
As the dogged Peeta Mellark of The Hunger Games, Hutcherson is a fierce and adorable screen presence. We at AE have loved him since The Kids Are All Right, of course.
Follow him on Twitter @jhutch1992
Photo source
23. Chord Overstreet
Glee's Sam Evans had us smitten the minute he achieved the impossible: making the song "Billionaire" bearable.
Follow him on Twitter @chordoverstreet
Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty
22. Tom Hiddleston
As Loki in The Avengers, Mr. Hiddleston is one trickster hero whose sinister stare we fully support.
21. Jo Weil
As one half of the German soap opera Verbotene Liebe's hottest couple, Mr. Weil slays us with his unbelievable body and cute waiterly charms.
Photo: Christian Holthausen
20. Benedict Cumberbatch
Tall and lanky, the lines of a thoroughbred, and entirely believable as the insanely brilliant modern day Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock. We'd follow him around like Watson too!
Photo: Matthew Lloyd/Getty
19. Zac Efron
While we eagerly anticipate his role in The Paperboy alongside Nicole Kidman, we're satisfied with what Efron gives us on a daily basis: preened, smokin' Mattel hotness.
Follow him on Twitter @ZacEfron
Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
The man who plays Christian on German soap Verbotene Liebe (Forbidden Love) has a chemistry with co-star Jo Weil that is a sight to behold, and the two have developed a huge, worldwide fanbase-- thanks in no small part to all those steamy clips on YouTube!
Photo courtesy T Schölermann
17. Zachary Quinto
He came out this year as a matter of conscience, showing other celebs exactly how it's done. We loved his stint on American Horror Story and adored him in the underrated Margin Call. Look for him in 2013 in the Star Trek sequel.
Follow him on Twitter @ZacharyQuinto
Photo: Gaye Gerard/Paramount
16. Anderson Cooper
He swore up a storm on Kathy Griffin's couch, giggled like the cutest little silver fox of all time on AC360, and even fronted his own talk show this year. Oh Anderson, we certainly see a lot of you-- and yet, wish we knew you better.
Follow him on Twitter @andersoncooper
Photo: Joey Foley/Getty
15. Gale Harold
The onetime Queer as Folk super-stud has kept busy in recent years with Desperate Housewives, Hellcats, and most recently The Secret Circle. But he'll always be Brian Kinney to us!
Photo: The CW
14. Grant Gustin
The candid AfterElton fave took our breath away when he joined Glee in 2011 as the adorable yet dastardly Sebastian Smythe.
Follow him on Twitter @grantgust
Photo: Clinton Gaughran/AfterElton
13. Ricky Martin
Dare we say that Ricky Martin is hotter than ever? The out papi was Glee's most sizzling-hot guest star this season.
Follow him on Twitter @ricky_martin
Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
12. Chris Hemsworth
The bulkier Hemsworth woos Snow White and wields Thor's hammer with equal finesse.
Follow him on Twitter @HemswChris
Photo: David M. Bennett/Getty
11. Ryan Gosling
"Hey girl." The former mouseketeer had a banner year in 2012, jumping from the frivolity of Crazy Stupid Love to the intrigue of The Ides of March to the grim adventures of Drive. Did we mention he was untouchably hot in all three? Because he was.
Photo: Warner Bros.
10. Adam Lambert
His sophomore release Trespassing went #1. The out-and-proud star continues to be our American Idol!
Follow him on Twitter at @adamlambert
Photo: Jeff Fusco/Getty
9. Harry Shum Jr.
Glee's Mike Chang kills us with his moves. Gorgeous.
Follow him on Twitter @iharryshum
Photo source
The out alum of Torchwood, Desperate Housewives, and Doctor Who is a perennial Hot 100 achiever. He also finished second in our Gay/Bi Men of the Decade poll. Still impressive!
Photo: Tony Barson/WireImage
7. Chris Evans
He slayed us in The Avengers, We'll have to wait until 2014 for the hard-bodied sequel.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty
6. Jensen Ackles
The smoking hot Supernatural star intrigued us on Dark Angel and Smallville, but he was born to play Dean Winchester. Wincest is best!
Photo: The CW
From the Tonys, to Barney Stinson, to raising babies, NPH is a whip-smart, super-hot homosexual for the ages.
On Twitter at @ActuallyNPH
Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS
4. Jared Padalecki
Supernatural fans unite! Sam Winchester and his dreamy hair have roused you since 2005.
Find him on Twitter at @jarpad
Photo: David Livingston/Getty
3. Matt Bomer
The White Collar scorcher could've just been a cable pin-up, but he insists on revealing more of himself in the upcoming stripper feature Magic Mike. Poor us!
Photo: Warner Bros.
2. Chris Colfer
Glee's brightest light expands his resume this year with Struck by Lightning and a soon to be released children's book. He's our overachieving, gay boy wonder, and we expect big things from him in the future.
Follow him on Twitter at @chriscolfer
Photo: Larry Busacca/Getty
1. Darren Criss
He's hot, charming, and forever our teenage dream as Blaine Anderson on Glee. This is his second year atop the Hot 100. Impressive? Indeed.
Follow him on Twitter at @DarrenCriss
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
Interested in the ladies? Check out The AfterEllen Hot100 - the 100 hottest women in the world as chosen by the readers of our sister site!
